Frog

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an improved frog including movable wedge means for closing the gap between the frog point and the wing rail.

United States Patent Edeling et a]. 51 Oct. 10, 1972 1 FROG [56]References Cited v [72] Inventors: Curt Edeling, Essen-Rellinghausen;UNITED STATES PATENTS h Eisennmnn M h, both f 23 umc 584,530 6/1897Strom ..246/47 0 1,146,888 7/1915 Lowe ..246/382 7 Awgm E Berk", 345,7337/1886 Sailliez ..246/470 "many 329,098 10/1885 I Strorn ..246/470 [22]Filed: June 29, 1970 2,385,248 9/1945 Akel's ..238/ 17 528,776 11/1894Horrie ..246/275 [2]] App! 569,653 10/1896 McCann ..246/385 [30] ForeignApplication Priority Data Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza AssistantExaminer-Richard A. Bertsch July 2, 1969 Germany ..P 19 33 451.1Anomekhmes Bryan [52] U.S.Cl ..246/468 246/382 511 1111. C1. .3501 7/10[57] ABSHACT [58] Field of Search ..246/468-472, 458, This inventionrelates to an improved frog including movable wedge means for closingthe gap between the frog point and the wing rail.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures FROG This invention relates to a frog inwhich the gap between the frog point and the wing rail is closed bymeans of wedges corresponding to the direction of travel.

On rapid transit lines and on rail sections where there is heavytraffic, the increasing speeds of rail vehicles and the axle loadsthereof produce difficulties in connection with the construction offrogs for the switches. Between the frog and the wing rail the wheel isnot guided but the guide thereof is imparted thereto by the wheelmounted on the opposite end of the axle with the aid of a guard or checkrail. Moreover, the placing of the wheel upon the frog generally occursin a sort of impulse. At speeds higher than 160 kilometers per hour, animpact in a transverse direction and, when rolling over the frog, alsoin the vertical direction is therefore unavoidable and leads to wear andtear. As the speed increases, this wear and tear also increases andultimately results in a decrease in riding comfort. A particularlysignificant wear and tear resulting in costly maintenance results ataxle loads greater than tons in the area of the frog when the frog gapis rolled over.

One solution to this problem which is known to the prior art consists ina frog having a pivotal point but the disadvantage of this constructionis that a great amount of force is required in order to bend the rigidfrog during the change-over into the desired direction of travel.Particularly undesirable is the stretching shock or impact required inone of the two connecting rails in case of a smaller radius. The lengthvariations of the movable frog point due to the influence of temperaturehave an adverse effect upon the guiding properties of the frog and thewing rail.

it is also known in the art to cause the branch to lead or extend intothe side-track in a bridge-like manner over a track of the main line, ifmain lines are involved whose junction into a secondary direction oftravel is required only rarely. While this method allows for riding ordriving on the main rail without reducing the speed and ensures a goodguide of the vehicle, it has the disadvantage that the branch orjunction can be passed or travelled on at only little better thanwalking speed inasmuch as the wheel must execute several verticalmovements within a short path.

The present invention obviates the disadvantages and drawbacks describedabove by means of an improved construction of the frog.

in accordance with the present invention, the guideless point of thefrog between the frog point and the wing rail is closed by means ofspecifically designed wedges which are displaceable in the longitudinaldirection. The wedges are maintained in position in the vertical andhorizontal directions by means of recesses in the bottom of the frog andby means of machining in the lower side of the rail head. The upperedges of the wedges are positioned at the same height as the wing rails;the frog point is lowered in the forward portion thereof. The wedges aremoved on an oblique plane whose inclination may be so selected that thewedges act in a self-locking manner. For purposes of satisfying safetyregulations and the rules concerning signaling techniques, thedisplacement of the wedges may be linked to that of the tongueselectrically, hydraulically, mechanically, or in any other manner. Forexample, the assumption of the end position of the wedge is controlledwith the aid of electrical contacts. These contacts are connected inseries with those which serve for checking the end position of theswitch tongue.

Analogously to the closing of the gap between the frog point and thewing rail in the main rail or track, the gap in the branching-off railis equally closable in accordance with the present invention. It is alsopossible in this manner to drive onto the branching-off rail also atfull speed.

The advantage of the present invention is that the frog remains a closedunit in contrast to the known constructions of frogs with movable wingrails or frog points, and, if necessary, the frog according to thepresent invention may be travelled on as a normal frog. Additionaladvantages of the present invention are that the wedges are laterallywell supported by means of the wing rails in the direction in which thegreatest guide forces are effective, that the frog with the movableparts thereof may be installed in an existing rail system, and thewedges can be easily replaced in case of wear and tear thereon.

The invention will be further illustrated by reference to theaccompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of a rail includingthe improved frog of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a view in cross-section taken on line A-A of FIG. 1 looking inthe direction of the arrows, and

FIG. 3 is a view in cross-section taken on line BB of FIG. 1 and lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, the wedges 1 and 1' may be slid by meansofthe hydraulic cylinders 2 and 2' into the gap between the frog point 3and the wing rails 4 and 4 thus locking the path of travel in thelateral direction. With the aid of the specifically designed guides, thewedges 1 and 1' are maintained in the position thereof in the horizontaland vertical directions. The drive of the wedges also may be effected bymeans of a spindle or other mechanical and/or electrical devicessuitable for the purpose. The end position of the wedges in theoperative position is assured by means of stop members but the wedgesalso may be maintained in the end position thereof by means of a specialconstruction of the hydraulic cylinders and/or appropriate mechanicaldevices.

A specific shaping of the surfaces of the wedges 1 and 1' is illustratedin FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2, the wedge l' is shown slightly higher thanthe frog point 3, whereas in FIG. 3, the wedge l is lower than the wingrail4.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modificationsmay be made within the scope of the present invention without departingfrom the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all suchmodifications.

What is claimed is:

1. In a frog having a frog point and wing rail, the improvementcomprising longitudinally movable wedge means for closing the gapbetween the frog point and the wing rail, said means being verticallydisplaced when moved longitudinally.

2. A frog according to claim 1 in which the wedge means comprises a'pair of wedges connected to hydraulic cylinder means.

3. A frog according to claim 1 including means for locking the wedgemeans in the end position thereof.

4. A frog according to claim 1 in which the wedge means are inclined andact in self-locking manner.

5. A frog according to claim 1 including means for varying the endposition of the wedge means.

a aaa a 5

1. In a frog having a frog point and wing rail, the improvementcomprising longitudinally movable wedge means for closing the gapbetween the frog point and the wing rail, said means being verticallydisplaced when moved longitudinally.
 2. A frog according to claim 1 inwhich the wedge means comprises a pair of wedges connected to hydrauliccylinder means.
 3. A frog according to claim 1 including means forlocking the wedge means in the end position thereof.
 4. A frog accordingto claim 1 in which the wedge means are inclined and act in self-lockingmanner.
 5. A frog according to claim 1 including means for varying theend position of the wedge means.